Measles Cases Alarm Broward Health Officials

An outbreak of 14 cases of measles in Broward County has health officials worried that the highly contagious disease could be making a comeback.

Cases have been diagnosed in Plantation, Sunrise, Pembroke Pines, Cooper City, Pompano Beach and Fort Lauderdale, said Loretta Moore, epidemiologist for the Broward County Public Health Unit.

``It`s on the increase in the area,`` Moore said. ``We`re concerned. You don`t realize when you`re in the environment to catch it.``

Although cases of measles have been on the rise nationally this year, the first case was not reported in Broward until July. A second case later that month prompted health officials to alert doctors and hospitals to look for the disease.

Before that, only one outbreak of the disease had been reported in Broward as far back as 1981.

Ten of the reported cases have involved children.

Three of the children and one adult were associated with the same day-care center, said Sam Crosby, a Florida adviser from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control. The day-care center was not identified.

Crosby said many of the children had been vaccinated but came down with the disease anyway.

``What we`re looking at baffles me,`` Moore said.

The American Academy of Pediatrics has recomended that children receive two doses of the vaccine for measles, mumps and rubella, or MMR. The academy also recommends a second vaccine for people under age 32 who have never had the disease and work in schools, day-care centers or hospitals.

Although a bout with measles usually lasts about nine days, it can lead to serious complications such as pneumonia and other severe infections.

The first signs of the disease are fever, a cough and a runny nose. Within a few days, the fever climbs to 101 degrees and a rash appears on the face and spreads to the arms and legs.

Measles is contagious during the four days or so before the rash appears and can be spread through coughs and sneezes.

Health officials stress that suspected cases should be reported quickly so that people who have been in contact with an infected person can be vaccinated.

Nationwide, more cases have been reported this year than any time since 1980.

Public-health officials attribute the rise to an increasing number of children in preschool who are not vaccinated and can spread the disease. Outbreaks also have been reported on college campuses.

Crosby said Florida, with 173 diagnosed cases this year, is not feeling the surge as much as some other states.

Palm Beach County has no reported cases this year. In Dade County, 44 cases have been reported, an increase from last year but far less than the 200 cases reported during a 1986 outbreak.

In Broward, free vaccinations are available at public health clinics. For information, call 467-4781.